Christopher Mann, senior officer at the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement in response to legislation introduced late last night by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), H.R. 4363, establishing a regulatory framework for offshore aquaculture.

“The Pew Environment Group applauds Representative Capps for introducing legislation that would establish strong national standards for offshore fish farms. We have seen worldwide that poorly managed marine aquaculture causes substantial harm to fish, wildlife and their habitat.

“There is not an overarching policy governing aquaculture development in federal marine waters. If the industry wants to expand into waters three to 200 miles offshore, we need a regulatory system specifically designed to address the environmental risks of fish farming and protect the health of marine ecosystems. This bill is an important first step in creating the necessary framework.”

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